What are the Texas laws for seat belt use for children?

Texas laws for child seat belt use are meant to protect children in the event of a car accident in Texas. After all, vehicle accidents are among the most dangerous accidents in the Longhorn State. If you have been involved in an accident that has left your child injured, whether you obeyed seat belt laws may affect your case if you pursue a personal injury claim.

Involved in a Texas Accident? The Law Regarding seat belts

According to Texas law:

A child who is at least 15 and riding in a passenger vehicle that has seat belts must be buckled up. An offense is punishable by a fine from $25 to $50.

Anyone operating a passenger vehicle with seat belts and transporting a child younger than 17 must have the child buckled up provided there are seat belts in the vehicle, as long as the child is not required to be in a child safety seat. An offense is a fine of $100-$200.

Different rules apply for younger children, who may need to be secured in a child safety seat, based on their height and weight.

After a car accident in Texas, your personal injury claim could be weakened if it is determined that you broke any seat belt or child restraint laws. To preserve your legal rights, you should have a Texas accident law firm review your case and explain your options.

As statistics verify, vehicle accidents are among the most dangerous accidents in Texas. In 2009, there were 3,071 fatalities in the state, according to the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration. Keep your child buckled up on the road.

Not every accident case requires the help of an attorney and we can help you to determine whether yours is one of those cases! If you are ready to get started with your case, we urge you to contact us today for a FREE case evaluation - 1-512-472-7799.